: I'm looking to build my first SOF and right now am trying to pick a design to
: start off.

: The three I like most so far are (in no specific order) Bjorn Thommason's
: Black Pearl, the Tom Yost's Sea Glider, and Nick Schade's Petrel.

: I'm inclined to do the Petrel, since I had a chance to paddle it in the strip
: version and I liked it quite a bit: probably the most playful of the bunch
: just by looking at the rest, just stable enough, though probably a smidgen
: slower than the other two in a straight line...

: Any impressions on how the SOF version compares to the strip build one? How
: do you do the conversion?

: I just found some photos of Nick's SOF Petrel. Wondering if there is
: additional information on this particular boat. Can I start with the strip
: version's plans? If so, what modifications do I need to make for the SOF?

:
: http://www.woodenkayaks.com/image/gallery-handmade-wooden-boats/skin-frame-petrel/sof-petrel-bow

: Another 2 questions (SOF building related): (1) what is the structural
: advantages (if any) of using multiple bent ribs as in the above photos vs.
: fewer plywood cross sections like here:
: http://yostwerks.com/SBSectionsA.html ?

: (2) why or why not would I want to glue things together vs. tie them
: together?

: Thanks!

The Black Pearl and Tom's Sea Glider are VERY skinny boats most definately not beginner boats, have no idea of your experience level.

There isn't a heck of alot of difference in the finished product of a Yost style boat and a traditional one though there are arguments that the more flexible lashed boats feel much different in the water. Performance wise they aren't alot different. Depends much on what you're after and some on what construction methods you're more comfortable with.

As far as I know there are no Petrel SOF plans, though there isn't any reason it couldn't be built that way from conventional plans. I'd ask Nick first though.

Bill H.